Top 10: North American Scenic Drives

Number 7

U.S. 1 Florida Keys Overseas Highway

Key Largo, Florida - Key West, Florida

Although U.S. Route 1 actually takes root in Fort Kent, Maine, the highlight of this road arguably begins in Key Largo, the starting point of the aptly named "Overseas Highway." Beginning in mainland Florida and extending more than 100 miles southwest to the city of Key West, the Overseas Highway spans 42 bridges connecting the chain of islands that form the Florida Keys.

Pit stops offer the usual Florida tourist attractions: snorkeling, fishing, and relaxing beaches. There are also a host of museums and historical forts and parks along the way. Once you've reached Key West, be sure to check out the onetime residence of Ernest Hemingway.

Number 6

Yellowhead Highway 16

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Mount Robson, British Columbia

Stretching through the northern prairies all the way to the Canadian Rockies, the Yellowhead Highway encompasses an overwhelming range of geographical diversity. Canada's a pretty huge country, and this is the route to take if you want to get a look at everything that it has to offer.

Driving through Saskatchewan's "grain belt" can be dreadfully lonely, so stop in the city of North Battleford or Lloydminster to take a break and reorient yourself as a member of a larger human race. The landscape will change dramatically once you hit the Kicking Horse Pass, which marks the beginning of the Rocky Mountains.

Number 5

Vermont Route 100

Stamford, Vermont - Newport, Vermont

With only three stoplights over its 200 miles of curved concrete, the Vermont 100 is a driver's paradise, and with the surrounding beauty of the Green Mountain National Forest, it's not too shabby for the passengers, either. This route was designed to hug the natural inclinations of the region's eastern valleys, and it's meticulously maintained year round to keep traffic flowing to the abundance of adjoining ski areas.

Along with the lack of stoplights, there's another surprising absence along this route: Fast-food franchises. Vermonters can be steadfast in their endeavors to preserve their state as a cottage-country wonderland, making for a truly picturesque drive. Antique stores, inns and fruit stands crop up along the roadside, and the towns of Plymouth and Stowe provide pleasant accommodations.